A preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the lichen moth genus Lycomorpha (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini) using molecular data

Lycomorpha is a lichen moth genus comprised of eleven species whose adults are aposematically colored. This coloration has led to taxonomic confusion within the genus. Furthermore, no phylogenetic work has yet been completed on the genus. The goal of this study is to build a phylogeny of Lycomorpha using molecular data. Specific questions to be addressed include: 1) testing the monophyly of the genus 2) resolving evolutionary relationships among the species, and 3) assessing whether any cryptic species are present. This study will be the first molecular phylogeny of the genus Lycomorpha.